Matt Jenner

For the last ten years, I've been an integral member of the senior management team in one of the UK's largest independent toy retailers.

My role involved working directly with the business owner to manage the largest of their retail stores, with overall responsibility for managing budgets, staffing and revenue targets.

The role involved selecting and evaluating products, and working with suppliers to build relationships and identify opportunities for joint promotional activities.

I was also tasked with forecasting stock requirements, managing inventory, and responding to customer demand. I am particularly proud of my contribution to product identification, where I influenced the buying manager to bring in one of the most successful ranges in the company's history.

Other duties include;

• Stock ordering-This required for me to keep track of current stock levels and also customer trends. I would also research other products I believed would work well within my store.
• Shop design and Merchandising-arranging the store to best reflect the products and engage customer interest.
• Visiting trade fairs- This was a particular favourite part of the job for me. It would involve researching new products and establishing relationships with suppliers.
• Outreach and Marketing- To improve awareness of the store I would be involved with numerous local events. I also used to run a story time session at the local theatre on Friday mornings taking demo toys with me for parents and kids to try out which often proved very popular that we would reach capacity often. I also helped run several summer workshops for children at the Amelia Scott centre involving arts and crafts.
• Interviewing and staffing selection-This would be independent from the business owner.
• Financial forecasting-building up Christmas stock against customer demand.
• Personal commitment of 10 years+ to an Organisation-I have treasured my time working for Whirligig and truly believe in the brand. I have watched to company grow and expand and hope to bring this same passion and commitment to my next role.

• Ensured high levels of customer satisfaction with proactive interaction and prompt issue resolution.
• Implemented promotional displays to increase product visibility and sales.
• Boosted store's reputation for excellence through meticulous upkeep, product presentation and customer service.
• Collaborated with upper management in strategic planning, contributing valuable insights from ground level operations.
• Coached underperforming employees improving their job performance significantly.
• Oversaw visual merchandising efforts that enhanced overall store appearance.
• Managed staff rosters, ensuring adequate coverage during peak times.
• Maintained and organised stock room for easy accessibility of goods.
• Facilitated smooth checkouts by maintaining efficient till operations.
• Led training sessions for new employees, equipping them with necessary skills and knowledge.

• Provided support to manager.
• Ran the hire ware department assisting customers choices.
• Assisted in recruitment process to build an effective workforce.
• Monitored sales performance regularly adjusting strategies as required.
• Managed cash registers accurately reducing discrepancies at end of day reconciliation.
• Carried out day-to-day duties accurately and efficiently.
• Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.